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Stavarg watches stunned as Claremguard is bested by Inka.
Oh wow. If Claremguard can't then none of us ca....
Just then he seems to have inadvertently caught her attention and her next fun-loving bear wrestle maneuver catches him off guard.
aaaaaaah! I give! I give!
He gets up and dusts himself off.
Well... as long as you enjoyed it.
The Princess smiles at the Pathfinders' antics. "Bravo! valiant efforts Pathfinders, but it appears my chief of security has been well chosen. A reassuring sight." The Princess nods at Inka, and Inka releases the three Pathfinders from their various grapples and chokeholds. They fall the the floor, gasping for air and thankful for the relief! Inka then bows to the Princess, "It is an honor to be in your service, Your Majesty!"
As the Princess walks away, she nods in appreciation to Lady Gloriana and the rest of the Pathfinders.
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"Thank you for helping us recover the artifacts a few weeks ago at the Cathedral... much appreciated, young ones! I will support you in your presentation later and put my blessings upon the proceedings..."
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"Thank you for helping us recover the artifacts a few weeks ago at the Cathedral... much appreciated, young ones! I will support you in your presentation later and put my blessings upon the proceedings..."
"Thank you, Father." Claremguard replies. "I know that the church of Aroden has never bestowed knightly honors save upon those both highly deserving and worthy, such as Honaria Alcasti. I understand that she was one of the youngest to have been proven to merit such distinction--a fact evident from the youthful form in the bronze bust commemorating the occasion. And while others may now be slow to recognize these facts, I am certain that you will convey the significance of these honors to those assembled here who may be in need of such edification."
"Thank you for helping us recover the artifacts a few weeks ago at the Cathedral... much appreciated, young ones! I will support you in your presentation later and put my blessings upon the proceedings..."
"Thank you, Father." Claremguard replies. "I know that the church of Aroden has never bestowed knightly honors save upon those both highly deserving and worthy, such as Honaria Alcasti. I understand that she was one of the youngest to have been proven to merit such distinction--a fact evident from the youthful form in the bronze bust commemorating the occasion. And while others may now be slow to recognize these facts, I am certain that you will convey the significance of these honors to those assembled here who may be in need of such edification."
Father Basri looks Claremguard straight in the eye, and says, "Ah yes, I still remember the meaning of these honors... I am quite old you know... I remember drawing magic from the font of Aroden himself! I've been to more than a thousand of these events. What I don't see often, however, is genuine good young men and women. You lot are a refreshing breeze into this gathering. In the name of Aroden, may all of your efforts bear fruit. May the blessings of Aroden be upon you!"
You note several nobles stopping their conversations and paying attention to your group as Father Basri himself elevates his voice to provide his blessings upon you.
"Chuu." says Katachu bowing his head solemnly.
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Never forget that even the gods may die. But neither man nor god is truly dead until the last echoes of his name and the memories associated to it disappear in the sands of Time.
Mallycorn stays solemn and grave, as befits a servant of Pharasma, and thanks Father Basri for his blessings
I am grateful for this blessings, Father. It is an honor, and I'll strive to do my best
The crowd applauds and some come to offer their congratulations. One of them introduces himself as Theon Cenabri, and gives you 20 platinum pieces as a reward of bringing his ancestor's remains back to his estate. After hearing your mention of the Alcastis, he ponders the situation for a few moments, then asks you, "If you promise to include Italice’s story at the court proceedings, to commemorate the reunification of our two Houses, I will verbally support the Alcasti's claim during the proceedings. It may add complexity to the claim, but it will be the best, in my opinion for both Houses in the long run. What say you?"
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"I hear you, young hero," responds Solmon. "Take this parasite who's wasting the Senate's time tonight, trying to ennoble himself, using the Pathfinder Society to substantiate his dubious claim... I'm sure he didn't mention his illicit financial behavior as part of his pitch to Venture-Captain Muesello, he he he... once thief always a thief... all these nobles are the same, fallen or not."
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Stavarg nods at Theon in agreement. The full truth must be laid bare. We appreciate your respect and support of late Honaria. Perhaps with the telling of Italice's part, the nobility can explore the difficult position she may have been put in by the rulers that sought to dishonor Honaria. Moving forward is always beneficial.
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"I hear you, young hero," responds Solmon. "Take this parasite who's wasting the Senate's time tonight, trying to ennoble himself, using the Pathfinder Society to substantiate his dubious claim... I'm sure he didn't mention his illicit financial behavior as part of his pitch to Venture-Captain Muesello, he he he... once thief always a thief... all these nobles are the same, fallen or not."
"Er, no he didn't."
"Is this true, Remaio?"
"Ka-ta?"
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"If you promise to include Italice’s story at the court proceedings, to commemorate the reunification of our two Houses, I will verbally support the Alcasti's claim during the proceedings. It may add complexity to the claim, but it will be the best, in my opinion for both Houses in the long run. What say you?"
"We have been tasked with uncovering truth, which we have done to the best of our ability, and bringing said truth to light." Claremguard replies. "I see no reason, after our efforts, to undo our work or leave any portion of what we have uncovered shrouded in darkness."
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"Take this parasite who's wasting the Senate's time tonight, trying to ennoble himself, using the Pathfinder Society to substantiate his dubious claim... I'm sure he didn't mention his illicit financial behavior as part of his pitch to Venture-Captain Muesello, he he he... once thief always a thief... all these nobles are the same, fallen or not."
The paladin stands nearby, considering Solomon--both his character and words--knowing that the man has a reputation for being a bitter and overworked bureaucrat, who has grown jaded with his fellow nobles and wishes to watch them suffer.
Finally, Claremguard speaks, "Please forgive my intrusion, Lord Menander, but I could not help but to my attention to your discussion upon hearing reference to the Society. If the organization of which I am a member has been a participant in, as you say, 'dubious claims', then I would seek to have such activity cease. Field agents of the Pathfinders, such as myself, know too well the dangers of entering into a situation without sufficient information. What can you inform me as to the nature of Lord Alcasti's claims and what proof have you in support of your conclusions?"
Solmon leans over to the paladin, "I have a secret, and twenty gold crowns could mitigate my fears of spreading that information... if you're interested I'll be near the gardens in a minute or two. But first, I need more wine..."
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"I look forward to seeing what you have found, Lord Menander." replies Clarmeguard.
As the noble heads off for more wine, Claremguard quietly explains to his fellow Pathfinders, "The Lord claims to have proof that Alcasti's claims are suspect. I trust him little, but think it worth a few crowns to avoid surprises. If you agree, I shall pay the price and hear him out."
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Politics..like a fine mechanical construction with unseen cogs and wheels and levers, and everyone fighting to get things their own ways, instead of cooperating toward the same goal.That's when politics become wars, eitheir by words or worse by blades. Do you need some money, Claremguard? I think Alcasti is honest, but the fact is I never tried to find out his motives, and believed his word at face value. It would be better to know right now if we've been fooled or not. The price might seem high in gold, but at least the honor of the Society will stay intact, and we would have learned an important, if costly, lesson.
Solmon takes the 20 gold pieces and leans towards Claremguard and for several minutes, reveals Remaio’s long history of taking bribes, and notes that Remaio funded your quests with ill-gotten gold. Solmon wryly admits he sympathizes— the Taldan government is dysfunctional, and Remaio is barely given one month’s pay for six months of work.
"I admit that I'll accept coin for information, occasionally, but unlike Remaio, I don’t accept the tainted coin of people who engage in unsavory practices. I provide information to generous and upstanding people as a way of showing my gratitude" finishes Solmon, shaking Claremguard's hand solemnly.
The heroes get the feeling that the official proceedings will begin soon... servants are cleaning out tables, tables and chairs are being moved, nobles are checking their attire...
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Stavarg leans into the group and quietly asks. So, what do we do with this? We could put this to Remaio and see if he tells a good story on operating under duress, and how this renewed status might help him work more on the up-and-up. I suspect at least one of us could tell if he's lying, to ensure he hasn't been wholly tainted by his path.
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"I am loathe to allow a dishonorable noble to sully the reputation of the Society for his own personal gain." Claremguard says in response to Stavarg. "But, I am reluctant to waiver from my duty as an agent. More information is required."
Did Sense Motive or detect evil provide Claremguard with any information earlier?
Solmon is taken aback, and stammers, "By the... take your probing magic elsewhere, soldier of fortune! this conversation is over! You had me believe you were a man of honor!"
Thankfully, Solmon does not throw back Claremguard's money at him, as the implications and optics would have been quite dire for a paladin, especially in polite company like this.
Several nobles sneer in disgust as Claremguard uses magic to probe certain nobles in the assembly! they move away from him like he suddenly has the plague. Lady Morilla suddenly goes for those hors d'oeuvres, after all, seemingly wanting to put some distance between her and the group... at least for the moment being...
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"It is, I suppose, the best road left open to us following my social faux pas." concedes Claremguard, speaking privately and as quietly as he can to Stavarg. "It is now painfully apparent that my knowledge of social graces is more limited than I had believed and that my efforts lack the subtlety required in matters of court.”
When Jimmothy barges into the gaggle of nobles surrounding him, Remaio suddenly gets a confused look on his face, and throws a joke at the assembly and Jimmothy on the inappropriateness of serving alcohol when youngsters are present. Remaio walks away as the nobles laugh, and he looks backward briefly but sternly at Jimmothy, "Hey! what's the big idea, little guy?" A few moments later when the paladin casts his divination magic upon him, Remaio's confusion grows into concern. The man's shoulders appear to sag with fatigue and he shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing. He then grabs a glass of wine, taking a break away from the gathering to refresh himself only to return just before the proceeding.
Trumpets announce the beginning of the proceeding, and the crowd goes silent as they reach their seats. As Princess Eutropia calls court to session, she has a surprise in store. After allowing Remaio to make a flowery preamble and confirming with Remaio that the heroes retrieved most of the proof, she asks you to present it instead of Remaio.
"Dear Members of the Senate, Father Basri, Harbormaster Hallador, Fellow Nobles, Members of the Court, Master Rell, and esteemed guests. We are honored to receive members of the Pathfinder Society today. We will be hearing a firsthand account from these skilled envoys of Absalom on the matter of an application by Remaio Alcasti to re-institute his family name into Taldan peerage," Princess Eutropia says, nodding solemnly at Claremguard, Stavarg, Mallycorn, Cillian and Jimmothy. The pause sends a few nobles whispering in each others' ears, and all eyes are on you for a few long seconds. Continuing, she declares, "It is my understanding that the Pathfinder agents are impartial in these matters and that they do not stand to gain anything from the outcome of these proceedings. It is with great pleasure and interest that I welcome Mister Claremguard, Novice Paladin sworn to the Lady of Valor, to the Court of Taldor to speak both as a presenter and as an expert witness in these matters."
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When Jimmothy barges into the gaggle of nobles surrounding him, Remaio suddenly gets a confused look on his face, and throws a joke at the assembly and Jimmothy on the inappropriateness of serving alcohol when youngsters are present. Remaio walks away as the nobles laugh, and he looks backward briefly but sternly at Jimmothy, "Hey! what's the big idea, little guy?"
"Alcohol? I didn't skin my knee, but is it true? Were you just using us this whole time for your own benefit?"
"KATA!"
"I want to restore the honor of my bloodline. I don't know what you've heard, but I wouldn't be surprised little friend. These are nobles of Taldor at their finest..." says Remaio, patting Jimmothy's shoulder before heading out to refresh himself.
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All nobles, senators, guards and servants present turn to Claremguard as the Princess returns to her seat and yields the Senate floor to him.
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May Pharasma smile on the Fate of your words.
Mallycorn was ready to cast a minor helpful spell but refrains from it at the last second
Reflecting on how these nobles mistook your earlier spellcasting for some unspeakable act, maybe it's better to trust your instincts and natural skill at this moment. Of course if you need assistance on some points of your presentation, I'm willing to help, but for now the floor is yours only.
He walks a few paces away from the paladin, and waits for the upcoming speech
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“My fellow Taldans, most-esteemed members of court, Lords and Ladies, Your Most Royal Highness, my appellation is Claremguard and I bear the sobriquet of ‘The Brightsword’. I stand before you today not only as a countryman, but also as a knight in service of The Inheritor and a member of the organization known as the Pathfinder Society.”
“As one among the devout of Iomedae, I have pledged my life to upholding the causes she embodies—those of righteous valor, justice, and honor.” he continues. “And as a Pathfinder, I have sought to live out its creed, which complement the ideals of the goddess—explore, report, cooperate.”
“In service of such, is how I and my colleagues, Pathfinders all,” Claremguard notes as he gestures to the party, “came to learn of the matters, upon which I am about to present. And, it is also within my duty to such, that I beg your ear and consideration at this moment in time.”
“While, I suppose, one could curtly present you all with physical artifacts and sworn admissions pulled from interrogation and cross-examination to bring about the completion of my duty. Yet, I am aware that you, those assembled before me—though high in status—are not above the enjoyment of a good tale, well told by witnesses.” Claremguard continues, recalling his upbringing among the nobles of this land.
”And, furthermore, you are Taldans, both proud patrons and attentive recipients of the finest storytellers in all of Golarion, whether produced from Rhapsodic College or the dear Kith. Thus, while I am no bard, I believe that, despite my oratory shortcomings, you will be treated to a story that is most compelling as, I and the gathered witnesses will demonstrate, it is true.”
“I begin my narrative in this tale with my entry into it, though it had been unfolding long before, and this missive, so written at the hand of Lord Remaio Alcasti, which was received by the Pathfinder Society while I was within its employ and which brought me and my allies to Wildwood Lodge.” declares the paladin as he produces the initial letter from Alcasti.
“My Lord,” he says deferentially to the Remaio, “would you be so kind as to reveal the contents of this letter to the minds gathered here and let it be made known the motives and needs that led to its delivery to the Society?”
Solmon stands, raising a hand, "Your Highness if I may. The Court is aware of all exhibits submitted as part of the application made by this self-entitled 'Lord Remaio'. We are here assembled to hear what new evidence these Pathfinders have uncovered in the last few months. Please do not waste the Court's time by calling the applicant as a witness to his own grandeur. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding, Mister Brightsword."
The Princess nods. Remaio bows to her wishes and sits back down.
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"As you wish, then, Your Royal Highness." Claremguard says. "It has been imparted upon us that the application before you is based upon the record of House Alcasti and, in particular, upon the long-ago deeds of Honaria Alcasti and whether such were in fact among those of glory and honor worthy of recognition and esteem within the sight of Your Most Royal Majesties and those here assembled or, as has been more commonly held, not so worthy."
"To that end, I have pledged to reveal the truth as can best be discerned. Thus, it was that in response to the letter that I referenced previously that my colleagues and I traveled from Wildwood Lodge into the Verudan Forest in the hope of securing testimony from one of the regions most ancient wells of knowledge, the blackwood tree." expounds the paladin. "And, obtain such testimony, we did--as well as the insignia of a fox, belonging to the one-time unit of the Taldan army, and the shattered makings of battle. The ancient tree confirmed that Honaria Alcasti had led a great army, that of the Taldan Empire, to round up fugitives in the wood who had been stealing from the Empire."
"This information came not lightly and only at considerable peril to ourselves." Claremguard notes. "My ally, Stavarg Titanshade, was personally injured en route to the tree. Further, it was he who spoke to with it."
The knight gestures to his ally, Stavarg, to allow him to offer any further testimony or details.
The Princess nods, "Stavarg Titanshade, you may descent upon the Senate Floor and provide your firsthand account of these events, if you so wish." The Princess motions for Claremguard to sit if Stavarg acquiesces to her invitation.
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The (not-obviously-apparent) dwarven man scratches his head and strolls forward somewhat casually, a bit unsure if he's out of his depth speaking at such a court.
When he reaches the speaker's position on the floor he coughs harshly into his fist, frowning. Finally he begins.
I find it fortunate that we could consult with such an unexpected and unusual eye-witness account of Honaria's deeds. An ancient tree has nothing to gain from untruths, no riches or nobility to obtain. It simply wants to protect its forest from unnatural destruction and spoke highly of Honaria's respect for the woods, and the Wildwood Lodge. Though the ancient tree was not concerned with Honaria's pursuit of the fugitives, it did confirm that she led her forces to prevail over them, obtaining an appreciable win for Taldor. It pointed us to a nearby cave containing a burial of sorts of the fugitive army. We were able to retrieve several items bearing their insignia.
He produces one of the swords, holding the flat of the hilt forward to display the fugitive insignia. Looking at the princess, though not quite directly in her eyes, he concludes.
I hope the kingdom of Taldor can proudly count Honaria's confirmed battle win in its annals going forward.
The Princess nods and thanks Stavarg. She motions for Claremguard to continue.
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"From the ancient growth of the Verudan Forest, our journey brought us next here to the glorious land of Taldor and, specifically, to the Basilica of the Last Man. There, we were told, we would find a bust of the praiseworthy ancestor of Remaio Alcasti, Honaria Alcasti, rightly immortalized in bronze." Claremguard continues, gesturing to the artifact. "It is a sad fact that we mortal beings are beholden to time, for it inevitably brings about the fading of memories and death. Thus, one may be forgiven due to the length of days since this artifact's creation, that Aroden, known as the God of Humanity and the Living God, was very much the patron deity of the kingdom of vaulted Taldor and that a blessing bestowed by the Church of Aroden was an honor reserved only for a worthy few."
"Yet, as evidenced by this form in bronze, Honaria Alcasti was found to be deserved of such honor. Further, the fact that this casting was held among other artifacts of the Basilica of the Last Man attests to the heights of such honor." asserts the Taldan Pathfinder. "Even those ignorant of such matters, know this bust of Honaria Alcasti to be a prize, for it was stolen by a band of thieves. It was recovered by my fellow agents and I only under threat to our own lives, including he among us who is of the latest generation. By his efforts, the knowledge and traditions of days past have been preserved to enrich the lives of he and his fellow youth in the days to come."
The Princess smiles at Jimmothy, "Brave Jimmothy, master of exotic creatures from far and wide, don't be shy young man. Tell us what happened, and speak freely. You are among friends. I for one am glad that you were rescued in time and saved from your injuries... I understand it was not to be the last time you spilled blood during this grand adventure... tell my noble friends and members of the Court how young people like you are out there and making a difference!"
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"Yet, as evidenced by this form in bronze, Honaria Alcasti was found to be deserved of such honor. Further, the fact that this casting was held among other artifacts of the Basilica of the Last Man attests to the heights of such honor." asserts the Taldan Pathfinder. "Even those ignorant of such matters, know this bust of Honaria Alcasti to be a prize, for it was stolen by a band of thieves. It was recovered by my fellow agents and I only under threat to our own lives, including he among us who is of the latest generation. By his efforts, the knowledge and traditions of days past have been preserved to enrich the lives of he and his fellow youth in the days to come."
{Looks around to see who Claremguard is talking about.}
"Golly. Well, I didn't really see much--being unconscious and all. Mostly it was Woof."
Somewhere someone strums a harp, and the air in the room gets all wobbly like a transparent jello hit with a spoon.
"You see, when Mallycorn got me up, I sicced Woof on the rat folk. She bit one hard on the leg, and then Claremguard who was using a different sword back then brought down another, and the last one surrendered that was about it really. The rat folk boss said they stole the statue, and some other stuff as part of a wealth distribution plan to jump-start the advent of a consumer economy. I didn't really understand it much either. Anyhow maybe you wanna ask Woof? I can summon her. If that's okay with you too Katachu?"
Katachu agrees, and shortly the big yellow caterpillar vanishes and in his place stands the bright-eyed, celestial dog, Woof.
Knowing that the jury probably doesn't believe that a cute extra-planar corgi makes for a competent (or even understandable) witness Jimmothy throws the dog a few warm up questions to set people at ease.
"Alright Woof, what's on top of this building?"
"Roof!" answers Woof.
"And how does sandpaper feel?"
"Rough!" barks out Woof getting excited.
"And who is the greatest baseball player of all time?"
"Ruth!" barks the dog spinning in her excitement.
The Princess motions to Claremguard to continue.
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"Yes, well... er, stated, Woof. You, too, Jimmothy." Claremguard mutters.
"Twas after the ordeal recounted by young Jimmothy that we learned that a blessing was not the all that was bestowed upon Honaria Alcasti by the Church of Aroden." Claremguard notes. He then nods to master of arms before continuing and reaching for the weapon on his belt, "If I may..."
Upon receiving approval, the paladin declares boldly,
When Soldier's Glory addresses the crowd, there is an audible gasp on the Senate floor. All eyes and ears are upon the blade as she recounts her years with Honaria. You see several men and women shed a tear or two when Glory recounts the last hours of Honaria's life, the blade at her side trying to comfort her as she passed into the Great Beyond...
"Thank you Soldier's Glory! your firsthand account of events was refreshing and very much appreciated. Mister Claremguard, do you have further evidence or witnesses to call forth, before I yield the floor to Peers of the Realm?"